"The best day to boost your emergency fund is always 'today' regardless of where the market is headed or what is going on in the world. By nature, unplanned expenses are unexpected so the sooner you're prepared the better off you'll be when the inevitable happens," says Bankrate.com's senior vice president and chief financial analyst Greg McBride, CFA.

"Uncertainty breeds nervousness and there is a ton of uncertainty in the air -- the likes of which we haven't seen in several years. I'd urge caution against any knee-jerk reactions," says McBride. "The fundamentals of personal finance still hold true -- have an adequate emergency fund parked in a savings account, and invest in a low cost, diversified portfolio built for the long run for your longer-term goals like retirement."

Avoid letting unexpected expenses or events lead you to financial ruin. Build your emergency fund by following these tips.

Determine how much you need

Start building your emergency fund with a specific goal in mind. While your savings goal will depend on your income and expenses, a general rule of thumb is to save enough to cover four to seven months' worth of expenses.

"Everyone has wants, needs and desires when it comes to spending money," says Pete D'Arruda, president of Capital Financial Advisory Group in Apex, North Carolina. "Make sure you have seven months' worth of emergency income available for the needs."

Kevin Gallegos, vice president of Phoenix operations for Freedom Debt Relief, says that when setting your savings goal, you should focus on having enough to cover expenses, not on replacing your entire income.

"Remember, in an emergency, we don't fund vacations, fancy new clothes, dining out or other luxuries," he says.

While you may aim higher eventually, Smith recommends making small goals at first, such as saving $1,000 and working your way up to a reserve to cover several months' worth of expenses.

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Decide where you will keep the fund

Your emergency fund should be easily accessible, but not so easily accessible that you'll be tempted to make withdrawals for everyday spending.

"I like using an account away from my normal checking account to build a psychological wall between my spending habits and my emergency fund," says Ray Lucia, a nationally syndicated radio host. "Credit unions work well because they normally allow you to start with smaller amounts of money."

Online banks also are good locations for your emergency savings account because you can't just walk into the bank and withdraw your cash.

Consider keeping emergency funds in a combination of locations, including an online savings account, in savings bonds and as cash in a lockbox at home.

If you can't stomach keeping a significant amount of money in a standard savings account with a low interest rate, consider a money market account that allows withdrawals only at certain minimum levels, or purchase short-term certificates of deposit with three- or six-month terms on a regular basis. You'll earn some interest and be required to constantly reinvest.

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Treat it like a bill

Establish a monthly savings goal and make it part of your regular budget. Consider setting up an automatic monthly transfer, just as you would with the electric bill or fitness club membership, to ensure the money is saved each month.

"The forced savings should feel like a bill-pay transaction that is done on the same day of every month," Smith says.

Paying yourself first through a direct deposit from your paycheck into your emergency account will help you build that fund steadily. But make sure you've created a balanced budget so that you save the appropriate amount. Otherwise, you'll be pulling money out of savings regularly to pay bills, defeating the purpose.

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Use it only for emergencies

"An emergency fund is for the unexpected," says Carrie Coghill, president and CEO of Coghill Investment Strategies in Pittsburgh. "For example, appliances that stop working, getting laid off from a job, a long illness or an accident. You use an emergency fund for any expense you cannot foresee."

One of the most common problems people have with emergency funds is forgetting to plan for one-time expenses each year, Coghill says.

"People budget to save and put away (for) an emergency fund, then they forget to budget for an annual insurance expense or car expenses, etc.," she says. "You can foresee your car insurance expense next November, for example, so it is not an emergency."

One way to avoid using the fund for non-emergencies is to make access to it somewhat difficult. "Do not get access to it via debit card," Smith says. "And if you are issued a checkbook, hide it."

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Take it slow

Gallegos recommends setting your expectations at a realistic level. "Any action you can take to establish an emergency fund will do you good," he says. "If you transfer $10 to a savings account each week, you'll have $500 in a year."

Don't be afraid to start with a small amount of savings each month, but try to increase it whenever possible.

"When you pay off a credit card with a $50 monthly payment, increase your savings by that $50," says Gallegos. "With the same outflow you have today, you'll be paying yourself."

When you get a tax refund or commission check, add it to your fund, he says. And gradually boost your savings by selling items you don't need on eBay, holding a yard sale or putting change into a jar every evening.

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